AVENUE U, Gravesend

by Kevin Walsh

In late March I learned that the Nathan’s hotdog stand on the Coney Island boardwalk had opened for the season, so I decided to head to Brooklyn’s Riviera by the Sea to relax for a few hours. After that, I went north on Stillwell Avenue, which generated a FNY page, and then east on Avenue U as far as the BMT on East 16th, which has now generated another.

Avenue U is the main shopping street in Gravesend, the seat of a very old town founded in 1643 by an English expatriot, Lady Deborah Moody (1583-1659). It was one of 6 original towns in colonial-era Kings County, each of which became part of the city of Brooklyn (Gravesend in 1894)  before its consolidation into Greater New York in 1898.

WAYFARING MAP: AVENUE U

 

Gravesend’s original town plan has miraculously remained intact over the years. Roads divided the square plan into quadrants, in which there were 10 plots apiece. The east-west road in the center became Gravesend Neck Road, while the north-south axis is today’s McDonald Avenue. Avenue U ran northeast against the grid and skirts the northwest edge of the square.

Avenue U begins at Stillwell Avenue and, one block in, encounters a grim-looking former public school with a subway car in its back yard protected by all manner of fencing, which was open to let through an exiting vehicle, though I had not the courage or foolhardiness to approach the subway car. Until 1981 this was PS 248, but it is now where MTA workers are trained in operations and safety measures. The subway car in the yard is an R-110B, a prototype car whose features later turned up in the R-143.

The true inventor of the telephone, Antonio Meucci, is honored at the triangle formed by 86th Street, West 13th Street and Avenue U. Meucci (1808-1889), whose house is preserved as a museum in Rosebank, Staten Island, had invented the telephone by 1860, but could not obtain a patent for it before Alexander Graham Bell obtained his, and thus Bell’s name passed into history while Meucci’s did not.

Fittingly a Verizon switching center is across the street from Meucci Triangle on West 13th.

 

BMT Sea Beach Avenue U station. Old subway appellations are rapidly fading from use; the N train in Brooklyn was formerly called the Sea Beach Line, because the steam train line it replaced went to the seashore Sea Beach Hotel in Coney Island. BMT stood for Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit, which itself had replaced the earlier BRT (Brooklyn Rapid Transit). The BMT built and maintained subways and trolley lines until its purchase by the city and subsequent consolidation with the Independent Transit (IND) and Interborough Rapid Transit) in 1940.

When the Sea Beach Line was placed in an open cut in Brooklyn in 1915, it built a nearly identical series of station houses, like this one.

 

The George Clark realtor is still there, in the address advertised, at Avenue U and West 7th.  On the roof are the necessary uglifications of our age.

Also on Ave. U and West 7th is the magnificent Bari delicatessen (“pork store”) which contains spectacular animal cannibal painted signage of a slavering, crown-wearing swine, the personification of the “king of the sausage” tag, holding a string of intestine-encased prepared pork. Bari, also the name of a kitchen supplies wholesaler on the Bowery, is named for a southeastern Italian city on the Adriatic Sea.

 

On this walk I paid special attention to the awning signs, as Avenue U has a great deal of vinyl and plastic lettered signs that probably go back to the 1960s or 1970s. The neon “Jewelry” sign probably goes back further than that.

Dairy Maid, which produces pasta and Italian delicacies in this still-predominately Italian neighborhood, features some impressive signage in the same vein. Named on the sign are manicotti, large pasta shells stuffed with white cheese; tortellini, ring-shaped pasta stuffed with meat and/or cheese; cavatelli, small oblong-shaped pasta; latticini freschi, fresh dairy products; translated on the sign.

 

I rarely see this kind of charlatanry occupying a complete storefront. They’re usually on the second floor.

 

Yet another 1980s vinyl and plastic sign. I wonder if Chinese restaurants have a random name generator.

 

At Avenue U and West 4th is a former post office; the pediment is inscribed with the date 1926.

The Gravesend Veterans Memorial at Lady Moody Triangle (Avenue U, Village Road North, Lake Street) features symbols of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard; a time capsule was buried nearby in 1987. The memorial subscribes to the theory that Gravesend drives from Middle English words meaning “end of the grove.” However, similar Dutch words mean “count’s beach” and a Dutch town is named ‘s-Gravenzande.

 

A pair of historic houses can be found on Village Rd. North opposite Lady Moody Triangle. #32 is the most altered by time, but some sources indicate it was constructed in 1788 as the Charles Ryder home. It was originally located at McDonald Avenue and Gravesend Neck Road, and, again, according to some, it served as a school when President George Washington visited it in 1790 during a tour of Long Island to thank various persons and municipalities that assisted the patriot army during the revolution.

 

Though nearby #38 looks older than #32, it was actually built a few decades later. The Ryder-Van Cleef House, originally located at 26 Village Road North, was moved here in 1928 to make way for the PS 95 playground that is still there. The house was built about 1840 by Lawrence Ryder and was owned later by his son-in-law John Van Cleef.

 

I detoured south on Van Sicklen Street, which runs north-south and forms the present western end of the Gravesend square street plan. The area south of Avenue U sees a number of odd alleyways and roads emanating from the street. Here, Lama Court, spelled Lamar on older maps, runs between Van Sicklen and West 9th.

 

Meanwhile, Lake Place, which goes back to the 1600s as a route from the Gravesend town center to the Narrows, presently runs west from Van Sicklen Street to 86th Street at West 11th. It is divided in two by the BMT subway, and only the section west of the subway is still a public street; the section wast was privatized and now swerves as driveways for homes adjoining it. I’m not sure if that was done legally. Lake is an old Gravesend name, and several Lake family residences were once scattered around the area. John Lake arrived from England in the 1650s and settled in what was then the only British settlement in Kings County.

Corso Court just east in a dead end from Van Sicklen Street south of Gravesend Neck Road. A former colonial-era Lake home once stood here, and the court, featuring handsome attached brick residences, was constructed in the early 1930s after the old house was razed. It’s marked by a remaining 1940s-era enamel and porcelain street sign.

 

PS 95, on Van Sicklen Street between Avenue U and Gravesend Neck Road, was constructed in 1915, likely by the prolific schools architect C.B. J. Snyder. A turreted residence belonging to a judge was displaced by the school, but it survives intact — it was moved to 2064 West 6th,  a few blocks west.

 

That house greatly resembles this one, which is still in place on Van Sicklen Street opposite Gravesend Neck Road. According to disputed local legend it once belonged to the last mayor of the city of Brooklyn, Frederick Wurster.

 

The handsome brick church at the SE corner of Van Sicklen and Neck Road was constructed in 1937, (possibly) with Belgian blocks from the surrounding streets, and has belonged to the First Korean Church of Brooklyn since 1979. A number of churches had owned the building including the Coney Island Pentacostal.

 

The purported Lady Moody house stands at #27 Gravesend Neck Road.

There’s a debate going on about whether the house actually was the home of Lady Deborah Moody. If it was, it would make the house one of New York City’s oldest, since she died in 1659. Brooklyn historical records have Sir Henry Moody, Deborah’s son, selling the property on which the house stands in 1659 to Jan Jansen ver Ryn. It passed through various hands before winding up with the Van Sicklen brothers, John and Abraham, who may also have built the house in 1770. It’s heavily altered from when it was built, and in any case, this is one old house.

Two very old cemeteries, each of which go back the community’s beginnings in the 1650s can be found on the south side of Gravesend Neck Road opposite the Moody house. The first is the Van Sicklen family cemetery, which, despite yearly efforts to maintain upkeep, weds and vandals are a constant threat.

The second is Gravesend Cemetery proper, which extends south to Village Road South.  The Old Gravesend Cemetery, across the street on Neck Road from the Moody house dates to 1643, the first year of the settlement. Lady Moody, according to legend, is buried in an unmarked grave somewhere within, although the oldest still-standing stone in the cemetery is dated 1724 and no stone has been found bearing her name. In the 1970s, these cemeteries reached their nadir with overgrown weeds, toppled gravestones and abandoned cars. Since then Gravesend Cemetery has been regularly mowed, and several historic signs and plaques explaining its significance have been installed.

Also, informative signage describing the Revolutionary War Battle of Long Island were erected.

 

Several decades ago a brick sidewalk was installed outside the cemetery gate. There had probably never been a sidewalk of any type before that.

 

Gravesend Neck Road passes under the Culver (F train) elevated at McDonald Avenue, which used to be the location of Gravesend’s town hall. The road runs southeast then northeast to Nostrand Avenue; that area, now landfilled, used to be swampy and the road led to a finger of arable ground within the swamp, called a ‘neck.’ Little Neck and Great Neck are named for small peninsulas, or necks, that jut into Long Island Sound.

 

I can never resist photographing Harold’s for Prescriptions at Avenue U and McDonald Avenue. I’m unsure if that glorious neon sign lights up at night.

 

Avenue U between West Street and East 1st Street. Louis Neglia is a three-time World Kickboxing Champion, a former U.S. Kickboxing Champion, a Florida Karate Champion, New York State Champion, and an Eastern American Karate Champion. No opponent has lasted more than three rounds against Louis Neglia since he won his first World Championship in 1980. Lou is an eight-degree Black Belt, and retired from competition in 1985 with a career record of 34 wins and only 2 losses. He was named Fighter Of the Year in 1984 and was inducted into the Karate Hall of Fame. He starred in four motion pictures (“A Hard Way to Die”,”Super Weapon”,”Fist of Fear”, and “One Down”, “Two To Go”). Featured articles have been written about him in the top American and International magazines and newspapers. louneglia.com

 

East 2nd and Avenue U. Modern residences strive to communicate anonymity, stolidity and inevitability (‘you will live in a place like this someday’). There is no concession to humanity or esthetics.

 

Or: the intention is to get across a DGAF sense of wealth (we’ll build this to keep you out, and who cares what it looks like).

Another set of vintage signs on Avenue U between East 3rd and Ocean Parkway. Especially witty are two stores, Twist and Twist and Shout, separated by Alice’s Restaurant. I wonder how many of the locals get the 1960s references.

No doubt a lot of motorists traveling north of Ocean Parkway wonder what this object is on the NE corner of Avenue U. I had long suspected it was a massive vent of some kind.  Oscar Israelowitz, in his “Flatbush Guide,” finally provided the answer: it’s the air vent for the sewage pumping station beneath that intersection.

Another eclectic group of store signage east of Ocean Parkway. One reflects an increasing Russian population in the region.

Firehouses of a certain age usually carry plaques containing the year of construction as well as the mayor at the time and his staff. Engine 254/Hook & Ladder 153 was built on East 9th and Ocean Parkway in 1924 during the John Hylan administration.

The Lester’s empire continues to grow along Avenue U and Coney Island, with nearly a dozen storefronts bearing the name. It is actually a chain of stores founded in 1948 by Lester and Lillian Kronfeld; other locales can be found in Long Island and Westchester.

 

Nearby, Barton’s Sportswear hasn’t fared quite as well. As a matter of fact I found what might have been the last two sweaters in the shop.

 

Another hand-drawn and lettered sign, next door to Bartons.

 

Worn out. Time for a Q train back to town. The B and Q use this part of the old Brighton line; both cross the Manhattan Bridge, but the B goes up 6th Avenue and the Q, Broadway.

For more on Gravesend see Joseph Ditta’s Gravesend: Then and Now, and ForgottenTour #33 explored the area in 2008; with over 50 fans, it was one of FNY’s best attended tours.

5/5/13

70 comments

David Alvarez May 5, 2013 - 9:00 pm

A map of where you started and where you went would help those of us who love the site but don’t have first-hand knowledge of Brooklyn or any other borough. You could use Google Maps to show us.

Reply
Kevin Walsh May 5, 2013 - 10:15 pm

done.

Reply
Joe Fliel May 5, 2013 - 10:32 pm

“Lady Moody, according to legend, is buried in an unmarked grave somewhere within, although the oldest still-standing stone in the cemetery is dated 1724 and no stone has been found bearing her name.”

A headstone for an unmarked grave is an oxymoron. It stands to reason that there wouldn’t be a stone bearing her name to be found since she was supposedly buried in an unmarked grave.

Reply
Kevin Walsh May 6, 2013 - 2:52 pm

You’re being nitpicky.

Reply
Joe Fliel May 6, 2013 - 5:12 pm

Nah. Just trying to keep you on yer toes.

Reply
Joe Fliel May 6, 2013 - 5:15 pm

Otherwise, this would be like the Greenpointers page. 😉 🙂

Reply
ManicG October 1, 2015 - 2:14 pm

Considering the extent of vandalism visited on that cemetery over the years, Lady Moodys headstone could have wound up in Sheepshead Bay. Even if one had been located in the Cemetery bearing her name, had it been anywhere but above her grave, said grave would be “unmarked”.

Reply
Harley Nemzer May 7, 2013 - 4:31 pm

I know this area pretty well, and you did an incredible job. Love the pork store sign. Classic.

Reply
Joseph battaglia October 1, 2023 - 5:36 pm

What is that Luis the butcher? He used to actually deliver to my mom’s house in Canarsie on flatlands 10th.
And when I used to visit my grandma Nelly on W. 6th St. and Lake Road I think it was Lake Road. It was a side dirt alleyway that went from west 6th to west 7th we are on West seventh grandma Stanziali had her house. Well anyway, grandma would send us with like five bucks and we come back with a whole boatload of cold cuts and some bread from Lou the butchers place. I was only a kid, so I only knew him as Louis the butcher.

Reply
Roxanne May 7, 2013 - 5:27 pm

By any change did you past Homecrest and Ave.U? Lots of my relatives used to live in a 5 story apartment building there.

Reply
Anonymous December 31, 2018 - 7:39 pm

My dad was a partner in Zei-Mar Deli, which was at 1228 Avenue U, corner of Homecrest Avenue. My Uncles Leo and Jack owned that store until November 9, 1965. The Avenue U Zei-Mar closed on September 30, 1980. Now it is a Chinese house goods store.

Reply
Toni Jean Merlino Franco May 8, 2013 - 10:35 pm

I loved and enjoyed this site so much. You have brought back so many precious Memories of my Childhood… I am proud and always, will be proud to be raised in Gravesend, Brooklyn!!!!!!!!
I was so blessed with a wonderful peaceful happy childhood!!!!! Thank you for putting a smile on my face today…. You did a excellent Job!!!!!
God bless
Toni Jean

Reply
Donna October 31, 2013 - 2:17 am

Are u related to Susan Franco that used to live over FAva shoe store on ave u and Homecrest ave?

Reply
Anonymous May 28, 2021 - 6:06 am

We used to live on Avenue U between E. 13th St. and E. 14th St. in the late 60’s. When my mother didn’t feel like cooking, she would send me to that deli for hot dogs and potato knishes. Yummy!

Reply
BUNNY May 10, 2013 - 9:18 am

http://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/tag/431-lake-street/

You missed a more infamous stop- 431 Lake Street- the site where a former nun was murdered as part of a Mafia plot to kill the producer of the movie “Deep Throat”.

Reply
BUNNY May 10, 2013 - 9:19 am

P.S.- You should have stopped at L & B Spumoni Gardens for their pizza and spumoni.

Reply
Kevin Walsh May 10, 2013 - 3:35 pm

I did, on a different walk

Reply
Alfonso Sorrentino November 9, 2020 - 3:39 pm

Went to L&B yesterday with my children and grand children also along for the ride was Aryanna my great grand
Daughter. It was also Rebecca’s 16th birthday which prompted the celebration. That’s Four generations at L&B.
Does anyone remember the miniature golf course where the parking is now located?

Reply
Frank B May 13, 2013 - 10:31 am

Quick clarification here; The N Train in Brooklyn is STILL called the Sea Beach Line.

Most people are confused by this; There is no such thing as a 4 line, or a A Line, or a N Line.

Those are services, labeled 4 Train, A Train, or N Train. The lines are physical routes and tracks, which are served by these services, many LINES, have multiple TRAINS.

The 4 Train uses, starting from The Bronx, the IRT Woodlawn, the IRT Lexington Avenue and IRT Eastern Parkway Lines.

The A Train uses, starting from Manhattan, The IND 8th Avenue Line, travels in Brooklyn over the IND Fulton Street Line, and terminates in Queens, in The Rockaways on the IND Rockaway Line.

The N Train uses the BMT Astoria Line, travels through the 60th Street Tunnel, and travels through Manhattan using the BMT Broadway Line. In Brooklyn, it runs the 4th Avenue Line express, then continues along the BMT Sea Beach Line to Coney Island Terminal.

While older cars like the R68’s cannot display this information, most modern rollsigns on the R160’s reflect this; For Example, the N Train will actually cycle through “Broadway Local” to “Sea Beach Express”; most station signs will still display the route name.

(Though technically, this is incorrect; whilst the BMT Sea Beach Line actually has express tracks, but they haven’t been used in years; they utilize the BMT 4th Avenue Line express tracks. It’s simply easier to label them “Sea Beach Express”, rather than “Broadway Local”, “4th Avenue Express”, then “Sea Beach Local”)

There are simply too many routes to Coney Island to not label them by name. You will also see on F Trains cycle through “Queens Boulevard Express, 6th Avenue Local, Culver Local”, to mark the route to Coney Island via the Culver line.

We’re trying to get people to realize that “Oh, the 6th Avenue Line runs under 6th Avenue.” Reintroducing the line names, can help you find where you need to go. (Not that they were a big secret to begin with.)

-Frank, MTA

Reply
Chip July 15, 2013 - 2:37 pm

McDonald Avenue, intersecting Gravesend, was originally Gravesend Avenue. Lady Moody’s settlement was the first English-speaking settlement in Brooklyn.

Reply
Suzanne January 10, 2015 - 3:10 am

Does anyone remember the name of the deli on the corner of Ave U & Homecrest Ave

Reply
Anonymous August 7, 2017 - 5:30 pm

Zeimar

Reply
Emilio March 8, 2015 - 2:02 pm

Dave Grimaldi, I grew up with you on ave U. Your grandparents owned the Grimaldi Jewlery store.

Reply
JoAnn December 30, 2015 - 7:53 pm

I grew up with his sister Linda. Were you ever able to contact them. I often think of my best friend Linda back in the day. I think I know you as well Emilio!

Reply
David October 18, 2017 - 4:08 pm

Um.. There is no Dave Grimaldi… I’m David, but The Grandson with a different last name. – You mean John.. Linda is my mom.

Reply
fred darretta January 23, 2018 - 10:02 pm

was john grimaldi called rollie son of julie

Reply
Joanne March 25, 2020 - 10:13 pm

Yes he was a dear friend

Emil February 8, 2021 - 9:35 pm

David, its Emil. You used to run into my
cousin Ritchie often on Ave U after I movd to upstate. Remember me now? We both lived on west 5th

emil ventura July 8, 2018 - 7:22 pm

Then it is you David. I don’t know why I used grimaldi for. Thats the only other name I remember you by. Remember in west 5th..I live on it, Kenny lived on the same block, Larry Giardino the bully lived on 5th also. This is Emil.

Reply
Joann October 9, 2018 - 8:10 pm

David. I am looklng for Linda. Is she on Facebook? She was my moms best friend in high school

Reply
Michael Rubino December 30, 2015 - 9:57 am

I grew up here and it was an Italian neighborhood. Now it is a Chinese neighborhood. I was told that there was an Underground Railroad passage between the original cemetery and one of the houses.

Reply
carol Ardigo January 2, 2016 - 8:43 am

A wonderful place to be raised! went to PS 95, Boody Jr High. than on to Lafayette!

Great Memories.

Reply
Lou De Santis January 9, 2016 - 2:06 pm

If stickball was an olympic sport, the players at PS 248 would have qualified for Gold Medals.

Reply
Lou De Santis January 9, 2016 - 2:54 pm

PS 248 Schoolyard ballplayers : Softball and Stickball
Oldest first thru my time there:
Curly, Mif, Joe Black, Angelique,[De Fendis], Joe Chink Bobby Beans, Southpaw, Joe Lo Datto, Ralphie, Lou De Santis, Carlo Di Nardi, Ziggy, Francona, Engle, Mouse, Polisino, Mazzarella, Duck, Landolfi,

Reply
fred darretta January 24, 2018 - 6:59 pm

I knew John played a lot of softball and stick with him at PS 95 school yard.

I think when your Mom was young she worked at Tavernas 5 and 10.

Reply
fred darretta January 24, 2018 - 7:07 pm

i think those guys you mentioned played for the Rams softball team .I knew Richie Duck bowled at Shell Lanes
with him and Frankie DelGuidice.When I moved to SI 30 years ago he lived down the block from me.

Reply
Rocco Gualtieri September 5, 2018 - 11:20 am

Those were the days. Freddie playing stick ball at P.S95. Bum Stadium. Avenue U great memories.

Reply
Costantino Volpe February 1, 2016 - 4:41 pm

I grew up on Avenue W between east 1st and 2nd streets in the 60’s and seventies. Went to Our Lady of Grace Elementary school and Abe Lincoln high. Spent many hours playing stickball and softball at PS 216 and 95. My uncle owned Nick’s Jewelry, in one of the pictures. This is an awesome trip down memory lane. My biggest regret is not appreciating the history of the area when I lived there. I looked at a lot of those historic houses and at the time just thought they were old houses. Ah the ignorance of youth. Had I known I might not have ever left the area. but sometimes life calls and you have to go. Does anyone remember what was at the corner of east 2nd and Avenue U before that ugliness was built? BTW I still have a giant vinyl N signage that went on the front of the N train on a scroll so you could change what the train it was.Thanks for this.

Reply
steve April 15, 2016 - 4:43 pm

As of the 1960’s, I remember Payless variety store, a lamp store, a shoemaker, and a tailor/dry cleaner, and then a gas station where you could get air for free for your bike/football/basketball/car. (Going from East 3rd to East 2nd). All the stores had second floor apartments above, but I think the tailor shop had 3 or 4 stories.

Reply
garry March 11, 2018 - 11:28 pm

I think it was Laurel”s pharmacy I lived at 380 Avenue U graduated Abe Lincoln 1964

Reply
Anonymous March 3, 2020 - 4:00 pm

2 gas stations and the Embassy catering hall

Reply
Mitch July 21, 2017 - 4:59 am

Thank you for sharing this. I have a lot of great memories of living there in the 70’s, playing baseball for OLG, going to PS 95, Taverna’s, Cheap Charlie’s, Joe’s of Ave U, Harold’s, my neighbors, of course.

Reply
Reva August 8, 2017 - 1:32 am

Lived on whitney Pl. for 5 years. That was one block behind Ave. U. Kids went to PS 95. You didn’t mention Fiorentino’s or Joe’s of Ave. U. Great restaurants. Joe’s had very unusual delicacies. Also left out Fae-Mart and Taverna’s. Wonderful stores. The German deli on MacDonald off Ave U was phenomenal – I can still remember the aromas. How about the live chicken market on MacDonald Ave? When my kids were babies I used to walk down the side streets and see the remnants of farms and historical homes. Wonderful area – Gravesend.

Reply
fred darretta January 24, 2018 - 7:01 pm

Gregory Lagana lived on Whitney I went to St.Simon and Jude with him in the early 60s

Reply
Diane September 5, 2017 - 12:33 pm

My father and his brothers owned Fezza’s Bakery on Avenue U between Van Sicklen & Lake Streets until the early 70’s. It was in the family for many years. We happily lived above the bakery surrounded by our large italian family. My brother and I went to Sts. Simon & Jude on Avenue T. Miss all those wonderful neighborhood stores…..happy times!

Reply
fred darretta January 23, 2018 - 10:08 pm

Frankie Fezza owned the bakery near Carmines Candy store

Reply
Paul February 4, 2018 - 8:29 pm

My Uncle was Tony Fezza married to my mom’s sister Pauline. I used to love to go in the back as a little boy and see the big mixers. Once or twice I climbed up on the big pile (big to me) of coal in the back yard.

Reply
garry March 11, 2018 - 11:21 pm

I remember Lisnows who sold rugs and Ber Kay Drug store just a few doors from your Dads bakery There was a bar and grill next to the pharmacy. A loaf of Italian bread was 15 cents (1960;s) Hot and Fresh the Avenue U boys used to break windows back then ,too Put a firecracker on your dad”s window one year

Reply
Joe June 9, 2019 - 10:00 pm

Hi I just found this site about Avenue U. Was this bakery was once called DiMarcos Bakery prior to it being Fezzas?

Reply
Frank lucchese January 6, 2023 - 5:42 pm

I lived above rosners butcher shop across from pops restaurant east 7th and u and my grandparents lived next block over across from Danza supermarket unbelievable how it’s changed I Remember city of bargains Mayfair theater Bernie’s dinner all gone

Reply
Zach November 6, 2017 - 10:35 pm

My Dad and Uncle opened the Skillet Restaurant on Ave U between Ocean Ave and E 19th St in 1962…. Does anyone remember it? Later on in 1969 they opened the second Skillet Restaurant in Brighton Beach….

Reply
Bob Mattson November 23, 2019 - 8:01 am

I ate at the skillet many times as a kid.
Right next to Frankel Jewelers and across the street from Warren Photo

Reply
Margaret January 11, 2018 - 6:09 pm

You left out a beautiful historic old home. It also has ties to lady Moody. Its on McDonald avenue between s and t. It is a landmark.

Reply
fred darretta January 23, 2018 - 10:21 pm

Played many days at PS 95 school yard.Stickball softball hung out in lady Moody sq.

We didn’t stay home playing video games .There was DiBella Bakery for ices(.5c) Carmine’s
candy store,Joes of Ave U,Taverna 5and 10,Cicones Bakery for the beat connolis,sunday
am buns at Cuccio on Ave.X,Carmela Pizzeria on Van Sicklin St,JOes Bar,Freddies Fish Market
(New Morden Fish)Dom and Sals Cold cuts and tuna heros on Fri,Dairy Maid Ravioli,L and B
Gardens Lisnow and Ficarra Carpets,Berk-Kay Drug store(Dr.Klinger was shot dead by his son
Gary)
Those were the days.

Reply
Kerry Reardon July 29, 2020 - 9:42 am

Can you tell me anymore about Dr. Klinger? I am researching a story about the incident.

Reply
fred darretta January 24, 2018 - 4:18 pm

rip my friends from the ave.who gave the supreme sacrifice in Viet Nam

Marc Savatta (Usmc) 1966
John Dagostino(USARMY Air Borne) Hill 875 1967
Steve(Stash) Turzilli) 1969

RIP
Freddie

Reply
paul March 19, 2018 - 9:19 am

The Gravesend Veterans Memorial at Lady Moody Triangle (Avenue U, Village Road North, Lake Street) features symbols of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard; a time capsule was buried nearby in 1987……. as a kid I was able to put some of my stuff in this time capsule when will it be dug up

Reply
Siusan O'Rourke April 20, 2018 - 9:45 am

The Plastic Signs of the 60s and 70s. My Father Joseph O’Rourke and his Brother Mark O’Rourke made alot of those signs.. Mark used to Hand letter signs .. a Grad of Pratt. He got my Dad making plastic signs with him.. they would bring these big sheets of Colored plastic into our Upstairs 4 room apartment.. Mark would Draw it out on Brown paper and use a ponce wheel on the letters.. tape the paper over the plastic and then they would let me put powdered Chalk on the paper.. lift the paper and the letters were on the plastic.. theyd jig saw them out and the glue the vinyl 3 to 6 inch wide edging on them and up theyd go on the store front.. they finally got a little store front to do this work on Bedford Ave just around the corner from Ave U

Reply
nat January 23, 2020 - 9:37 am

so sad that just 7 years after this was written, a large number of these stores are gone 🙁

Reply
Mark Peck January 23, 2020 - 10:35 am

You noted the presence of the tall circular vent at Ocean Pkwy and Ave U belonging to the sewer pump station, but do you also recall that there was a small brick phone booth like building beside it? Its not there any more, replaced by steel doors flush with the sidewalk.
In the 80’s my paramedic unit had been stationed at that corner, and each day we would see a DEP truck pull up and the employee entered this brick building. Our curiosity took hold and we spoke with him one afternoon. He invited us in. The building housed a staircase that led to a 2 level pump chamber for the waste system. Each day an employee physically checked the pump, but it appears that years before it may have been a manned post. The top level had a very clean office/lounge complete with an easy chair and a TV. The level below housed the pump system.

Reply
Anonymous March 3, 2020 - 10:15 am

Thanks for the memories. I grew up on avenue w and lake st. Used to pass the cemetary everyday on way to p.s.95.

Reply
m east 2 March 26, 2020 - 4:39 pm

Best of times. What can I say Lived it love it

Reply
Anonymous September 5, 2020 - 9:59 pm

Dom & Sal’s if you are a real Ave U

Reply
Carol Imbriale December 5, 2020 - 11:30 am

Does anyone remember the name of the clothing retail store on Avenue U and East 13th street across from the dress store Coopermans – I am talking about stores in he 1970s. trying to remember its nameIt was a mom and pop clothing store for men and woman. Nice window displays.

Reply
dominic modafferi April 23, 2021 - 5:33 pm

You left out one of the greatest land marks in Brooklyn its L&B Spumoni garden

Reply
annamaria May 16, 2021 - 9:22 pm

Grew up on ave t. and west 4th st. went to p.s 95 then boody jr. high. anyone remember across from p.s 95 entrance , on the corner, we kids would get penny candy from that lady, I believe she sold fruits and vegetables.
what was the name of her place?
also I used to eat lunch everyday at Annie’s luncheonette on ave u, walking distance from p.s 95. went to church at st. Simon and Jude every Sunday. would go shopping at kings plaza. good olde Taverna’s five and dime.

Reply
Tom Mac February 11, 2022 - 12:45 am

Does anyone recall an appliance shop on Ave U just off Coney Island Avenue named “City of Famous Bargains?” I think one of the Lester’s store fronts is in the spot now, but I may be off. I remember the man who ran the
place was always very nice to me. He actually hooked me up with some hard to find toys back in the 80s. I know that store was there from 1984-around 92, most likely long before that.
I’d like to think the owner did ok for himself and would appreciate any info on what became of him.

Reply
Anonymous April 26, 2022 - 6:59 pm

MY GRANDMA AND GRAND PA NAME WAS GUERCIO

Reply
Anonymous December 22, 2022 - 2:31 pm

Great times lived on avenue U east 4 street
Vinny spirito

Reply
Gloria Gismondi September 12, 2023 - 8:49 am

I grew up on West 7 St between U & V. Went to PS 95 Bloody & Lafayett. Yes I remember the chicken market Frankie Fezzas bread Bara pork store.. It was wonderful time, I left in 1960 but I am still a proud Brooklyn girl

Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.